TRT leader calls for investigation into Gen Saprang's trips
Thai Rak Thai Party caretaker leader Chaturon Chaisang called Friday for a government investigation into the Bt7 million overseas trip taken last week by junta member General Saprang Kalayanamitr as chairman of Airports of Thailand.
Chaturon also urged the government to keep Saprang under control after the Council for National Security member accused his opponents from the former ruling party of harbouring grudges against him following the coup.Thai Rak Thai on Monday claimed that the CNS deputy secretarygeneral included his relative in the 13member delegation that splurged Bt7 million on the junket. Saprang did not deny or admit to the presence of his kin on the tour but said he was the victim of a smear campaign, as he was innocent of any wrongdoing. "I doubt Saprang's words that it was a move by his opponents [to discredit him]. It's not correct for the powerful figures who are running the country to turn to look at politicians whom they don't like as their enemy. I think what he said wasn't proper. He should change his views. Both the CNS chairman and the prime minister should suggest him to change his attitude," Chaturon said. Even if Saprang considers Thai Rak Thai as his adversary, the party won't look at him as its opponent, he said, adding that the party sees him as a fellow countryman who has different perspectives on solving the country's problems especially on democracy, liberty and civil rights. Next Monday his party's executive committee would submit a letter to the government and the AuditorGeneral's Office requesting an examination of Saprang's travel expenses. "It's a political party's duty to keep the country's welfare in mind. Even though the money may be trivial, the state shouldn't ignore it because this is all about transparency," he said. The Nation
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